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Fico: SDKU-DS Made Shady Dealings with Shell Companies
Friday 22 January 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, January 22 (TASR) - The currently most popular Opposition party SDKU-DS made some shady deals in 2004-05 when it headed the government, Slovak Premier Robert Fico said at a press conference on Friday in Bratislava.
According to Fico, SDKU-DS struck a shady deal with a company called Soul, which Fico labelled a "garage firm" [a reference to what the controversial company Interblue that has been involved in selling surplus C02 emission quotas – ed. note].
"In light of the connections between SDKU-DS and Soul ... In light of SDKU-DS nominees' bank accounts and companies operating in tax havens, using Swiss banks, it's possible to infer ... that illegal funds have been used in financing SDKU-DS party activities. There's also a suspicion that money laundering took place," said Fico.
He added that Smer-SD has never resorted to such practices, which he described as resembling an organised crime outfit more than a political party. "We refuse to have SDKU-DS lecture us on morality or ethics," said Fico.
When asked about the source of this information, Fico replied that he got the inside scoop from former SDKU-DS members that were forced to leave the party. Fico said that he will provide the documents containing proof to media, police or the prosecution office if required.
SDKU-DS chairman and former prime minister Mikulas Dzurinda in response to Fico's accusations said that premier is only diverting attention away from his own scandals - such as the botched launch of the electronic-toll system, the bargain basement sale of emission quotas sale and lands transfers.
"What he did (today) was political manipulation unheard of to date. This wasn't an announcement that a criminal act was committed. This was all about browbeating the Opposition," said Dzurinda.
Commenting on what Fico called a suspicious party financing, Dzurinda said his party is annually screened by auditors and no shortcomings have been identified in these reports to date.
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